Junk cars on city owned property

(November 28, 2006) Junk and abandoned cars parked on city owned property continue to be a problem for residents in one Ypsilanti south side neighborhood. A city-owned lot just south of the Ypsilanti Housing Commission’s Hollow Creek property at 118-124 S. Grove with a sign that says Visitor Parking is a veritable junk yard of cars and trash. (click on pictures for a larger view)

Many vehicles have expired plates, others have crashed front ends, flat tires, or broken windows. There is a thick layer of leaves on most car. Neighbors have said some cars have been there for over a year.

Trash also litters the site, especially going down the hill on the western side of the property. On our last visit before Thanksgiving, we saw trash bags, on old bed frame, and more spilling down the hill that leads to the abandoned railroad tracks and river.

Neighbors have reportedly complained about the property for some time, saying the City or Housing Commission patrols for a short while only to have problems return. The Housing Commission, in an agreement with the city, has used the parking lot for the past several years for Hollow Creek resident and visitor parking.

YpsiNews.com first learned of the parking lot in May 2006 at a monthly Ypsilanti Housing Commission Residents Council meeting when residents complained about continued problems with cars and trash. Unfortunately for residents, things continued to get worse.

Perhaps things will soon change. On Monday, the Visitor Parking sign was replaced with a new sign that says No Overnight Parking. The cars and trash, however, still remain.

See a Google map of the city-owned parking lot south of Housing Commission’s Hollow Creek Apartments on South Grove Street.

NEWS FLASH: City Council withdraws offer to hire new clerk

(November 22, 2006) Ypsilanti City council, after a lengthy closed session, has decided to not hire Lisa Johnson for City Clerk. The City Council in a brief one sentence statement said Johnson had not passed the background check.

Johnson had come under fire for having failed to disclose legal problems prior to her hiring, including an arrest in 2005 for tampering with financial records. Charges were later dismissed, however, prosecutors have indicated they intend to appeal the dismissal.

Watch Video of Ypsilanti City Council, November 21, 2006

The Dayton (OH) Daily News reported that Johnson had resigned from her post as Moraine Clerk after the Moraine Council had voted to terminate her in September 2006.

Ypsilanti City Council then passed a resolution to invite the five remaining candidates back for another round of interviews. It is unknown how many of the remaining candidates are still interested in the position. Amanda Holsinger, Interim Ypsilanti City Clerk, had already withdrawn her application.

Hope Clinic withdraws purchase of Ave Maria on Forest Ave.

(November 22, 2006) The board of directors for Hope Clinic have decided to not pursue the purchase of the Ave Maria property on Forest Avenue in Ypsilanti. Citing opposition from residents in the Riverside Neighborhood Association, Hope Clinic Executive Director Cathy Robinson said they are looking elsewhere for space.

“There was a great deal of work necessary for Hope to proceed,” said Robinson. “From rezoning the property, site plan, conditional use, and more. All of which would be an up hill battle. It would have been even more difficult starting from the negative without the support of the neighborhood.”

At a special meeting with Hope and the Riverside Neighborhood Association held on November 2, residents expressed concern over increased vehicle traffic as well as increased non-resident pedestrian traffic. Residents were also concerned about the loss of green space to new parking.

Robinson said that Hope was going to start over as they still want to look to consolidate their different operations into a single location. Currently, Hope has about 2,000sf of space for the medical clinic and 1,000sf for their Dental Clinic. They have an immediate need for 2,000sf of new space for the two clinics. Robinson estimates that they need about 10,000sf of total space for all their programs and staff.

Bruner finalist for Ferndale manager job

(November 22, 2006) Ypsilanti Assistant City Manager Robert “Bob” Bruner is one of six finalists for the city manager position in Ferndale, Michigan. In a press release from Bruner announcing he is a finalist, Bruner noted that he would be the eighth Ypsilanti department director to leave the City in the 30 months since his predecessor Shannon Stumbo Bellers left in June 2004.

Managers that have left include Former Assistant City Manager Shannon Stumbo Bellers, Human Resources Director Shari Kirby, and Public Works Director Harry Hutchison. Former Police Chief George Basar retired to become Police Chief in Howell.

The chief architects behind the Water Street Project, former Downtown Development Authority Director and before that Planning Director Jennifer Goulet took a job in Chelsea while former Planning & Development Director Megan Gibb left for Portland, Oregon.

The press release failed to note that two other managers have also left the city, the former HR director Bill Johnstone parted ways before his probation period was up and City Clerk Cherry Lawson, who is currently suing the city, took a job in Sedona, Arizona. While not a manager, long time City Assessor Carole Claire, also retired this year.

Bruner noted that the pay bump would be about $30,000, over his current Ypsilanti salary of $64,000 per year, plus benefits. Bruner said earlier that he had not yet been contacted about a schedule for interviews with Ferndale. Ferndale is expected to make a decision within the next month.

Residents voice frustration over increase in crime

(November 21, 2006) At a special community meting held on Monday, Ypsilanti residents voiced their concerns over the recent increase in street crimes and burglaries. Ypsilanti Police Chief Matt Harshberger said that the majority of the crime is centered around the downtown business district and surrounding neighborhoods.

Watch Video of Police Community Meeting, November 20, 2006

Some 50 residents packed into the Senior Center to hear from Chief Harshberger about some of the problems the community and department are facing. One of the concerns raised by the Chief and several residents was the decision by Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners to stop the boarding out of prisoners to other jails.

Roberta Wojcik-Andrews from Midtown told officials that she has personally been the victim of three crimes since boarding out of County prisoners had ended in August 2006. (0h:45m) Andrews said, “It seems as if the decision to end the outboarding was a knee-jerk, irresponsible action, rather than limiting or controlling (the expense) of outboarding.”

Washtenaw County Ways and Means committe heard a report from Sheriff Minzey on June 6, 2006 about the boarding out of prisoners. (see page 6)

Here is a Google search of the County’s website with more articles and links on “boarding out” of prisoners.

Mark Maynard has posted notes from Monday’s meeting.

Ed Penet from Riverside Neighborhood Association has also written up extensive notes and we have included them below. Thanks Ed for letting YpsiNews post them on the site.

NOTES FROM COMMUNITY MEETING ON CRIME & JAIL OVERCROWDING (11/20/06)

The meeting came down to three actions all residents (owners & renters, alike) must take immediately to help address: A) private property crime in our area, B) ail overcrowding, which puts the same bad people back on the street, and C) the county-wide issue of needing to expand or build a new county jail.

Here are the three things to do NOW:

#1 - You know your neighborhood. Be vigilant and call the non-emergency police number when you see or hear suspicious activity day or night … people/activity that do/does not belong in your neighborhood, call: 483-9510. Remember what you saw or heard, physical descriptions, colors of clothing. DO NOT get personally involved, but rather let the police come and check it out. If you have any other Ypsilanti law enforcement questions or other issues, call the Ypsilanti Police Administration line: 483-8590. Keep both numbers handy.

ONLY if there is a true emergency, or you have become a victim of a crime and YOU NEED IMMEDIATE police and/or fire assistance, call: 911.

Also … Get into new habits, immediately: keep your doors locked, windows locked, garage locked, car in the garage and locked or locked in the drive, any and all valuables locked in the trunk and out of sight. Expensive push brooms, snow shovels, lawn furniture, anything “loose” in the yard will have legs.

Despite the additional nominal cost, keep front and side or rear porch lights on at night, or use a timer. Add alarms to your home if you can afford to do so.

#2 - The County jail is in “lockdown” at the present, meaning no new prisoners, unless they are violent offenders or armed robbers. The crimes discussed above will not be handled by our County jail until further notice, meaning offenders are caught, processed and then released … and they offend again … and are apprehended again … etc. what’s more, the County will not pay for “outboarding” of prisoners in other county jails. As a result, over the last two months, since the lockdown began, and outboarding was stopped, Ypsilanti Police have arrested 124 persons for unarmed robberies and have processed them with 198 multiple charges, and have had to release them, pending their hearings … which means they’re back on the streets.

You can help the City, the Police, the County Jail Administrator, outspoken County Commissioners, and your neighbors by writing and/or calling the County to insist that two things happen IMMEDIATELY at the jail … #1 that Sheriff Minzey change his mind and use his statutory authority to reduce the sentences of some non-violent offenders being held at the jail. Early release will free up SOME jail space immediately to make room for “badder” people. #2 - that the County Board of Commissioners IMMEDIATELY (at their very next and their last meeting of the year in early December) reinstitute the practice of “outboarding,” where already-sentenced or otherwise eligible prisoners are boarded out to other county jails (Lenawee, Livingston, etc.), which may have space and are willing for a fee ($40 - $60/day) to take these people. It costs us $80 to house an inmate for a day … so, the price is right … for the moment.

#3 - In January 2007, the newly constituted County Board of Commissioners will be faced with many issues, among them: either adding a new pod (96 beds) to the current jail … or, as the consulting architect to the County recommended, demolishing the current structure and building a new, larger, more humane, and more efficient facility. Renovation will take two years, and by that time, the 96 beds will still be 100 or more beds short, given the population growth projected for the County and current crime level projections. An entirely new facility would make more sense and would help address the fundamental issues facing us at this time: removing criminals from the streets, treatment programs and rehab to help change habits, and longterm release strategies to deal with social problems that lead to crime.

Even a new jail won’t correct all of that … as Commissioner Peterson remarked, and Commissioner-elect Schwartz echoed, the newly elected Commission will be much more open to comprehensive activist planning, and to giving a serious look 20 to 30 years out to decide on social and financial strategies for dealing with crime prevention, family services, rehabilitation, financial support, school in-service programs, recreation and jobs. What we are seeing on our streets, for the most part, are crimes perpetrated by our own County residents, who need more comprehensive intervention. Without it … criminal activity will grow as the population grows. The law enforcement community throughout the County and generally the judicial bench agree.

So, when you write/call, also demand: AT MINIMUM a new jail pod, or more wisely, a comprehensive County services plan, that includes a NEW COUNTY JAIL. Ypsilanti City Council, COPAC, and other civic organizations will ALSO be contacting the County. What will really make a difference to the current and future commissioners will be the volume of citizen letters and calls regarding these issues.

- Ed Penet, RNA Secretary

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